Smokin' Tigers: A Pictorial History of Reconnaissance Attack Squadron ONE (RVAH-1)
By Matt Bittner
Authors: Michael Grove and Angelo Romano
Publisher: Ginter Books
ISBN: 979-8-9854726-0-8
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 120
Having an interest in the North American A-5 Vigilanti, I thought it fitting to choose this book to review. It has plenty on the aircraft along with this particular squadron that flew her.
The book starts off with a brief history of the Navy's composite squadrons in the heavy attack role. From there it starts on the creation of Heavy Attack Squadron ONE (VAH-1) flying P2V-3B Neptunes. Next comes the jet age, starting with training flights in the F9F-6 Cougar as a transition to jets, followed by the flying of the A3D Skywarrior by VAH-1 aviators. Eventually we get to the delivery of the A3J-1 Vigilanti and which point the squadron was flying nothing but A-5As, as the aircraft was renumbered. Each section of the book is broken out by cruises and dates, with a section in the beginning of the A-5 deployment dedicated to the aircraft itself, providing details about the airframe and powerplant.
This book is a modeler's dream. Coupled with the many photographs throughout the tome, there are also color profiles to spark the imagination of any modeler. Plenty of color views - photographs and profile drawings - of RVAH-1 aircraft, mainly Vigilantis. As far as models go, I always found it surprising that most models are for the last version of the aircraft, the RA-5C. Not many - if at all - of the earlier versions of what initially was the A3J-1. A definite shame.
I thank Engage Armed Forces Reports for the review copy (unfortunately it appears their site is no longer active). I am glad I have this book and will one day build an RVAH-1 RA-5C in 1/144.